Fires of Glory
(week 44/07)
Olubi Johnson
We are in the season of the fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles when God will be manifesting the fullness of His glory through His Church.
One of the ways the glory of God is manifested is by fire.
In fact there are 3 stages in which the fire of God’s glory will be manifest in the Church: purging fire, refining fire and glorifying fire.
1. Purging fire:
Luke 12:49-53 (NKJV): “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
This fire causes a separation in the Church between, as it were: gold, silver and precious stones and wood and earth (1 Corinthians 3.12-15); wheat and tares (Matthew 13.30-43); those who rightly divide the Word (2 Timothy 2.15) and so are approved (1 Corinthians 11.19) and those who are not; ‘Philadelphia’ (Revelation 3.7-13) type saints and ‘Ephesus’ (Revelation 2.1-7) type saints in this 3rd. day, as God is preparing a body that will grow into the perfection and fullness of Christ to manifest the fullness of His glory.
This purging fire is already working the Church as we speak.
2. Refining fire:
Zechariah 13:7-9 (NKJV): “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; then I will turn My hand against the little ones. 8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the LORD, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one- third shall be left in it: 9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ ”
The 2nd. Stage of the fire of God’s glory being released in this 3rd.day is the refining stage. This comes after the separation stage has taken place. Those that are approved are refined.
This refining fire comes in the form of difficult circumstances, tests and trials in which we use the fire of the power of Holy Spirit, through praying and walking in the spirit, to keep ourselves in the love of God:
It is in this ‘furnace of affliction’ that we are chosen to experience the 3rd. stage of fire: the fire of glorification.
Isaiah 48:10 (NKJV): 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
1 Peter 4:12-13 (NKJV): Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
Jude 20-21 (NKJV): But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Luke 3:16 (NKJV): 16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The fire of the Holy Spirit that refines us is generated and released in the place of prayer.
The altar of prayer built by Elijah in 1 Kings 18.31-38 and the Melchizedec priesthood spiritual burnt offering typify this type of prayer that generates and releases this fire of refining.
In our article next week we will examine in more detail the ‘Elijah prayer of fire’.
